Why does a ? percent rate cut from the Federal Reserve Bank make national news and send stocks soaring upwards?

While some answers might involve long discussions of monetary policy and macro or microeconomics, the real answer is much simpler -- and one that's pertinent to every household: by spending less on the interest payments from the money they borrow, banks and large corporations have more money to loan or spend to grow their businesses and generate larger profits.

The concept of prioritizing retirement savings is one people regularly avoid for numerous reasons. Some believe the immediate need to save for retirement is trumped up, while others have more important immediate priorities such as saving for a home or funding college. Still others mistakenly believe that the amount they'll receive from Social Security will suffice. And then there are those who choose to ignore the issue completely, expecting plans to magically fall into place. Unfortuntely, the days of magic and pensions are waning and a new era of personal responsibility has taken their place.